The author of "Just Give Me the Damn Ball" caught 814 passes for 10,571 yards and 64 touchdowns in an 11-year NFL career not just because of raw talent but because, as he says, he had "that arrogance, that confidence" great receivers must have.

Which brings us to another No. 19: Ted Ginn Jr. During a phone interview over the weekend to promote Old Spice's NFL Swagger Rankings –the Dolphins ranked 14th in a statistical survey that stretches back to 2006 and includes such categories as red-zone performance, penalties and merchandising (don't ask) — Johnson had this to say when I asked him about Ginn.

"I think he’s OK," Johnson said. "He was drafted a little higher than
what his performance warranted in college. I felt they reached a little bit for
him but it’s not his fault. You can’t punish him for that. He’s a guy that at
the right price makes sense."

So, is there still time for Ginn to salvage his Miami career?

"He has to play with a little bit of swagger," Johnson said. "He has
to play with that confidence and a little bit of that swagger we’re talking
about. The definition of swagger, in my
opinion, is you have to have that arrogance, that confidence that you are the
best out there at all times.

"That’s the way I approached the game. People
said I wasn’t the fastest guy in the world, but I ran past everybody I needed
to run past, and he needs to take that same approach. I dominated the [joker] when he got in front of me. He needs to take that same approach. Until then he’ll
just be another guy wearing 19 that’s out on the football field running around
collecting a paycheck that will soon be out of the league."

Wow. That last part sounded pretty harsh, but considering Ginn's problems this year with dropped passes and general invisibility for long stretches, they aren't out of line.

I wondered if Johnson, who played for Bill Parcells in Dallas and with the Jets and maintains a good relationship with the Dolphins personnel czar, had ever talked with Ginn, perhaps even at the Tuna's urging?

"I talked to
him in the past," Johnson said of Ginn. "It’s not any of our business to get into somebody else’s
business about how they approach the game. I got my own house to worry about
from burning down."

No need for a pep talk now. I believe it's just been given, from one No. 19 to another.

Check back here later on for more Keyshawn on other topics related to the Dolphins, including Dan Henning's future and, of course, how long Parcells might be willing to stick around.

Comments (216 Comments)

big dawgg,
first of all, i was ‘arguing’ politics, i made a joke. you are the one who brought up the arguing with your ’slavery’ comment. and second, we can and will discuss anything we want on this blog whether you like it or not.
thanks for stopping by

Knight,
I’m pretty much in the same boat as you except that I really have a strong hate for politics (that happens when you live in Illinois). A little off topic is fine, especially when people are just joking but this blog too often gets way off track and turns into a political debate.
I come hear to read the opinions, rants and insignts of fellow Fins fans about the Dolphins and football. People don’t go to restaurants to buy building supplies so it would be nice to stay on topic. Just sayin’…

Big Dawgg. If you don’t like it , don’t read it or get off the blog. Who made you boss ?
Posted by: NJ PHIN FAN | January 11, 2010 at 04:54 PM
Who made you the boss?This isn’t a political blog you pathetic retart.

Who said I wanted to be boss? I usually don’t read comments from the asshats that frequent this blog but when the regulars turn a football blog into a political debate, am I wrong to suggest we stick to the topic?

big dawgg,
We know the WR position has to be upgraded, so who else would you cut? Turner may develop, so I hope they give him some time. Hartline does everything Cam does and has a lot of upside. Bess fills the slot role better than anyone we currently have.
It’s either Cam or Ginn. If we find a great return guy in the draft or FA, then I’m fine with Ginn leaving. Otherwise, he gives us a potential game breaker in the return game and he still could improve enough to warrant keeping as a #2 WR.

drg,
I agree we need a true #1 but that simply won’t happen overnight unless the Trifecta surprises us all and lands a big time WR via trade or UFA.
I would love to see Turner develop and hope he gets a fair shot next year but I just don’t see him being better than Bess, Cam or Hartline at this point. I don’t think we can afford to cut someone like Cam unless we have that true #1. Plus, I like the idea of having depth at the #2&3 slots.
Also, Ginn’s speed on returns doesn’t do us any good unless we block. Too many times I saw Ginn dancing at the 20 with 2 or 3 guys closing in on him.

after watching the wild card games, i recognized that the fins are not in the same league as those teams…the fins dont have the talent, the speed, the defense…anything…there is no one on the fins that can make a catch like Jenkins or Fitzgerald…the fins need a lot of help…it will take a lot of time and patience

am I wrong to suggest we stick to the topic?
Posted by: Big Dawgg
no offense meant, but what makes this blog fun is that it isnt 24/7 football. i mean come on, how many more times do we need to bash wilson or ginn or our slow lb’s

Hartline can do more than Camarillo.
Posted by: The Knight who says Ni!
I think he can too but not sure he’s there just yet. Plus, I’d like to see what a fully health Cam brings us. He was our Wes Welker part 2 before he got hurt.

after watching the wild card games, i recognized that the fins are not in the same league as those teams…the fins dont have the talent, the speed, the defense…anything…there is no one on the fins that can make a catch like Jenkins or Fitzgerald…the fins need a lot of help…it will take a lot of time and patience
Posted by: ira f. | January 11, 2010 at 05:05 PM
Probably a decade or so…..IF they do thins right!!!

thats funny, didnt we beat a few of the playoff teams, and one of them twice
Posted by: finfanrob
————
No doubt. Our record against the playoff teams was 3-3. I’d say we are in the same league. Like it or not, but everything in the NFL is about momentum… in games and throughout the season. Teams surge and sink at different times. I would put us against any of those with a healthy roster. Every team has injuries… I know I know, but ours was a little more severe than others. Timing was bad.

HOW ABOUT WE TRADE
JOEY PORTER
GIBRIL WILSON
WILL ALLEN
AKIN AYODELE
LEX HILLIARD
JASON ALLEN
PAT WHITE
PATRICK TURNER
TO THE 49ers OR SEAHAWKS IN THIS UNCAPPED YEAR FOR A 1st, 3rd, and 5th ROUND PICKS IN THIS YEARS DRAFT! THESE PLAYERS ARE EITHER OVERPAID, UNDERPERFORMING, OR AT POSITIONS OF STRENGTH AND ARE EXPENDABLE. NOT ONLY DO WE ADD DRAFT PICKS – WE OPEN UP SOME MONEY FOR BIG MONEY ROSS TO SIGN WILFORK (OR HAMPTON OR ANOTHER NT) DANSBY TO PLAY ILB WITH CROWDER A FS (PREFERABLY DARREN SHARPER) AND MAYBE A TE (BENJAMIN WATSON) AND ALLOWS TO DRAFT OR TRADE FOR A WR AND FILL OUR DEPTH!

The problem with miami’s passing game is they have to many wr’s. They should cut them all and just put TE’s on the field.The opposing teams covers them with CB that’s a mismatch then run, if they cover them with LB’s then pass on them. The only problem is the fans wouldn’t someone to blame like Ginn for the poor Offensive passing attaack.

OmarKelly(Twitter)”The Dolphins have just fired defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni and will be looking for a new defensive coordinator.”
WOOWW!
Posted by: HeatDolphans#1 | January 11, 2010 at 06:04 PM
Wow is right. I’m shocked by that.

I’m glad guys like Keyshawn Johnson are analyzing Ted Ginn’s performance. Ginn is still a young player with no history of injuries to hamper his development. Ginn no doubt has the speed needed for the position, but he needs to refine his route running, catching, and toughness in order to reach his potential. I believe if he is given the opportunity to work another year with this coaching staff and works hard on improving his weaknesses, he can develop into a very productive player. I think it would be a mistake to give up on a young player so quickly. Young players need to be given enough time to develop before they are let go. I think Ginn we develop well with another year under this regime. Sparano has made it clear that mediority will not be accepted. Furthermore, the constructive critisizism that he is receiving from former players such as Johnson can be a big motivator to a young player like Ginn trying to prove himself. I say give him one more year. I think he will have a much better season next year and prove his doubters wrong. Ginn will be very motivated knowing that his career is in serious jepardy if he doesn’t progress.

I feel good about where we are after 2 yrs, it would of been nice to play a playooff game or 2 but we were not ready for a SB run plain and simple. We get the 12th pick in the draft and should pick up some playmaker on D. We need to dump Porter this yr because it will not hurt our cap. Sign JT for a mil or 2 and sign a#1 WR in FA.

Wake is ready for the next step, set the edge on running plays and he will be a complete player.
ILB, NT and Depth is the draft stratagy this yr. Pick for value over need for the 1st 2 or 3 picks and find replacements for GWilson and Ayodele please!
WR needs to be a FA pick up and there will be some good ones on the market and a uncapped yr is perfect to pick one up.

He is hurt for most of the season and he is not getttin any younger Ni. Do it now so it will not hurt in the cap got it! He is due for a big roster bonus and is not worth it at this stage in his career I hope that clears things up Ni I do not want to have to brake it down some more for you.

miasports4life
THATS the problem…he was given a ton of cash up front= no motivation.Not like a guy like Bess who wasnt even drafted who busts his aZZZZZZZ. with any luck that player will rediscover the will to dominate.

I have a feeling after 1 yr of no cap there will be an agreement between the players and owners. This is a blessing for us this yr though because we can build for the future and no cap to worry about should push us closer to contending for a SB.

it doesn’t look good getting a wr in fa as Players are tendered one year contract offers by their team at one of four salary amounts, which can be signed by the player at any time.
Other teams are free to make offers on these players, but the player’s old team is free to match any offer and retain the player’s services.
If another team signs a RFA and the old team does not match, the old team gets draft pick compensation determined by the level of the original tender (either a first- and third-round pick, a first-round pick, a second-round pick, or a pick from the round the player was originally drafted).
and we know how the trio loves their draft picks!!!

Ferguson wants to continue playing and would prefer to remain a Dolphin.
But he’s 35 and won’t be cleared to participate in the offseason program because he needs at least five more months to rehab the quadriceps injury he suffered in mid-November.
The Dolphins might go another route via the draft!
thats why i think they trade down pick up another pick and select dan williams in the first rnd!

TED GINN JR NUMBER # 1 WHAT YA TALING ABOUT YOU DIDNT SEE THAT BOMB THAT HE CAUGHT AND THEY CALLED TRIPING?? I DIDNT EVEN KNOW ABOUT THAT CALL I BET ALL YA WERENT TALKING ALL THAT SMACK WHEN THAT HAPPEN TED GINN #1 IN THE WORLD
TED GINN #1 HATERS!!!
TED GINN # 1
Keyshawn Johnson BETER TAKE HIS OLD AZZ HOME
TED GINN FOR MVP 2011 BABY JUST WATCH

Headline: The president may die soon!
The president may die. I just spoke to a head medical doctor at the Miami Baptist hospital, and he said that 100% of presidents eventually die.
Could he know something we don’t?
Remains to be seen.

So what Keyshawn is saying is this… what is required for Ted Ginn to become a better football player is for him to begin acting like a thug-punk kid from the streets? I don’t think Jerry Rice needed to act like that.

1st You show you can do the job.
2nd You feel good about how well you did the job.
3rd Then and only then are you allowed to swagger.
I hope Ginn has a degree because he needs to be doing something else.

I am ready for the draft too. I just wish that Bill Parcells could be locked up until after the crucial 12th pick was used to get us a good hands number one receiver. Then they could turn him loose and let him straighten out the rest of the team.

If this guy Ginn continues to be a member of this team with his non-play he’s up for criticism, so if you think that we should give it a rest or give the guy a break you’re an idiot. Just like Teddy. What are you friends with him? Are YOU Teddy? People are going to complain about sh1tty players, welcome to blogs. Especially if they deserve it. If Teddy performed, he wouldn’t get any. Get it?

Keyshwawn’s comments actually were slightly constructive. Sort of a challenge to Ginn unlike the simple minded boneheads who lay the quarterback carousel, so so offensive schemes and above all else pitiful defense at Ginn’s feet. Those folks are a bunch of morons. If you had a decent defense you would be in the playoffs and Ginn would be running for touchdowns. One thing Keyshawn and these morons are wrong about is saying Ginn will be out of the league. There is no way Miami cuts him – they’ll be at least 10 teams that will fight to claim him – you momo’s. Miami had twice as difficult a schedule this year than last year – that’s why the team regressed also they don;t use Ginn properly.

WRevenge I agree with you 100%.I for one like ginn,yes he has his problem,and its not his hands,don’t be fooled he can catch.but you put a small guy like him running cross routes like a tightend it probably won’t work out to well.ginn is a deep threat reciever ,use him to strecth the field and get a good possesion reciever to fight for yac…on another note.ginns 3 years were with 3 different style qbs..and now with henne we have the qb to utilize ginns talents,but coaching staff don’t have balls to do so.

He’s gonna be arrogant walk with swagger and still run out of bounds,drop like a fly when tackled, and drop passes. He’s a track man, I call him periwinkle.
He give’s people with no judge of talent “HOPE” like your dumba/ss GM who really sucks! He sucks in free agency, his drafts haven’t produced and impact.
He goes for low priced garbage and he reaches for less talented players to fill a need instead of bieng patient, not to mention wasting a much needed 2rd pick on a situational player, who doesn’t contibute at another offensive position or special teams.

Headline: The president may die soon!
The president may die. I just spoke to a head medical doctor at the Miami Baptist hospital, and he said that 100% of presidents eventually die.
Could he know something we don’t?
Remains to be seen.
Posted by: PAZ
If i were you i worry more about when your going to die, Most psychics believe people who dwell on other people dying are really dying themselves.
Have you had a checkup lately?

OMAR KELLY was unsuccessful at achieving his childhood dream to become a super hero, so he figured he'd do the next best thing and become a journalist who fights against injustice, and searches for truth. After being bored to death reporting news and covering politics, he switched to sports.
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IZZY GOULD joined the Sun Sentinel in Feb. 2012 as a Senior Sports Reporter on the Miami Dolphins beat. He came to South Florida fresh off covering the University of Alabama football program, including its 2011 national championship team. More